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Description
"As plans for the initial exploration of Meios were set down, it went without saying that all journeys to the planet would have to be automated; the conditions were simply too extreme to attempt any human landing. This required an entirely new outlook on mission elements - these would not be limited to data collection, but would ultimately have to be responsible for any task the researchers required. These would become not only their eyes, ears and hands to a pristine alien landscape, but could well become their first envoys to the sapient Meiosians."

Ponhatac Sakdeav,
Ministry of Xenological Resource Administration,
From Briefing Assessment A102, Ryear 9997

Oft ignored in the study of Meios was the terrestrial vector of exploration; with only a few scattered islands, worn flat by erosion and showing no sign of floral occupation, many initially suspected that the planet's landmass remained uninhabited (at least by macroscopic life forms), and required only a cursory examination. This could be achieved by a more versatile aerial probe, and for a long while the debate was left at that. It was only after Meiosian structures were identified on the archipelago that it was realized a more permanent ground presence was required, and a somewhat rushed design was put up to the challenge.

Hence was created the Vigil class probe, the probe that might never have seen the light of day. Although it bears no small resemblance to the very earliest interplanetary probes, this machine is built specifically with the Meiosian geosphere in mind; its body is built low, placing its center of gravity dead near the ground to avoid being tipped over by wind forces. It relies on wide treads to distribute its weight, with sideskirts running their length to keep foreign bodies from blocking their mechanisms, while powerful bogeys provide suspension and allow it to clear uneven ground.

However, its terrestrial nature has brought the Vigil class a unique slew of problems. Without its own aquatic or aerial capabilities it cannot return to the carrier unaided, and so requires Serenity class probes to retrieve and deploy it. Its low-slung body means it cannot utilize nets slung under the body to capture local wildlife, and its mild maneuverability could make it a target for potential high-speed predators, hence it relies on a supported net gun both for fauna acquisition and self defense. The probe is too small to store most of these samples inside it, and instead slides out a tray to place the netted creatures on; it will drag this tray behind it until it has called down a Serenity unit to take it away.

Description
"As plans for the initial exploration of Meios were set down, it went without saying that all journeys to the planet would have to be automated; the conditions were simply too extreme to attempt any human landing. This required an entirely new outlook on mission elements - these would not be limited to data collection, but would ultimately have to be responsible for any task the researchers required. These would become not only their eyes, ears and hands to a pristine alien landscape, but could well become their first envoys to the sapient Meiosians."

Ponhatac Sakdeav,
Ministry of Xenological Resource Administration,
From Briefing Assessment A102, Ryear 9997

Oft ignored in the study of Meios was the terrestrial vector of exploration; with only a few scattered islands, worn flat by erosion and showing no sign of floral occupation, many initially suspected that the planet's landmass remained uninhabited (at least by macroscopic life forms), and required only a cursory examination. This could be achieved by a more versatile aerial probe, and for a long while the debate was left at that. It was only after Meiosian structures were identified on the archipelago that it was realized a more permanent ground presence was required, and a somewhat rushed design was put up to the challenge.

Hence was created the Vigil class probe, the probe that might never have seen the light of day. Although it bears no small resemblance to the very earliest interplanetary probes, this machine is built specifically with the Meiosian geosphere in mind; its body is built low, placing its center of gravity dead near the ground to avoid being tipped over by wind forces. It relies on wide treads to distribute its weight, with sideskirts running their length to keep foreign bodies from blocking their mechanisms, while powerful bogeys provide suspension and allow it to clear uneven ground.

However, its terrestrial nature has brought the Vigil class a unique slew of problems. Without its own aquatic or aerial capabilities it cannot return to the carrier unaided, and so requires Serenity class probes to retrieve and deploy it. Its low-slung body means it cannot utilize nets slung under the body to capture local wildlife, and its mild maneuverability could make it a target for potential high-speed predators, hence it relies on a supported net gun both for fauna acquisition and self defense. The probe is too small to store most of these samples inside it, and instead slides out a tray to place the netted creatures on; it will drag this tray behind it until it has called down a Serenity unit to take it away.